To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse. And of his port as meke as is a mayde. 70 space, But natheles, whyl I have tyme and He was a verray parfit gentil knight. 1 wood. * hearts. distant. 4 shrines. known. chance. ' fallen. 8 "entertained in the best manner." " agreement. I A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler, 80 Hir gretteste ooth was but by sëynt Loy, With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in And she was cleped2" madame Eglentyne. 10 9 And he had been somtyme in chivachye, Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde. Ful wel she song the service divyne, 1 horses (plural). 4 coat of mail. 1 ordinary height. 10" considering the short 11 lady's. 12 adorned. 15 joust. 16 draw. 19 it pleased him. 21 cropped head. * doublet. 5 voyage. 8 active. #spotted. 6 curly. military expedition. time he had served." 13 meadow. 14 fluting. 17 hotly. 18 in the night-time. 20 take care of his weapons. 23 equipped. 24 "figure of St. Christopher used as a brooch." 26 forester. 27 named. 29 pleasure. 30 reached. 31 truly. 33 behavior. 36 dignified. 39 fine bread. 34 tried hard. 37 worthy. 40 pleated. 28 elegantly. 32 fond of pleasure. 35 deportment. 38 tenderness of heart. 41 well proportioned. 180 Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees, What sholde he studie, and make himselven wood, Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure, 185 Or swinken10 with his handes, and laboure, As Austin bit? How shal the world be served? Lat Austin have his swink to him reserved. Therfore he was a pricasour11 aright; Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as fowel in flight; 190 Of priking12 and of hunting for the hare Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare. I seigh his sleves purfiled13 at the hond With grys, 14 and that the fyneste of a lond; And, for to festne his hood under his chin, And eek his face, as he had been anoint. A FRERE there was, a wantown and a 220 For he had power of confessioun, smerte. 225 230 235 Therfore, in stede of weping and preyeres, 240 1 handsome. * hunting. cared. 12 riding. 2 string. a superior sort of fellow. 5 somewhat strict. " mad. 10 work. 13 trimmed. 6 same. 11 hard rider. 14 gray fur. 1 go. 15 in good condition. 18 fire under a cauldron. 20 licensed beggar. 23 country gentlemen. 25 give. 28 a sort of fiddle. 16 glittering. 17 glowed. 21 important. 19 wasted away. 22 knows. 24 licensed to hear confessions. 26 boast. 27 stuffed. 29 songs. For sothe he was a worthy man with-alle, But sooth to seyn, I noot 18 how men him calle. A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also, 285 That un-to logik hadde longe y-go. As lene was his hors as is a rake, And he nas nat right fat, I undertake; But loked holwe, and ther-to soberly. Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy; 19290 For he had geten him yet no benefyce, Ne was so worldly for to have offyce. For him was lever have at his beddes heed Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed, Of Aristotle and his philosophye, Than robes riche, or fithele, 20 or gay sautrye. 21 295 And rage he coude as it were right a whelpe. But al be that he was a philosophre, In love-dayes ther coude he mochel helpe. hente, 22 261 On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, 300 hede. 265 And in his harping, whan that he had And short and quik, and ful of hy sentence.24 Souninge25 in moral vertu was his speche, And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche. A SERGEANT OF THE LAWE, war 26 and wys, That often hadde been at the parvys,27 310 Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat, His botes clasped faire and fetisly. His resons he spak ful solempnely, Souninge12 alway thencrees of his winning. He wolde the see were kept 13 for any thing 276 Bitwixe Middlelburgh and Orewelle. He semed swich, his wordes weren so wyse. His purchasing mighte nat been infect. 320 1 barmaid. 8 was not. * better. 3 leper. considering his ability. ⚫ profit. 4 beggar woman. 7 poor people. the beginning of the Latin Gospel of St. John. 10 proceeds of his begging. 12 tending towards. 14 shields, French coins. 16 management. 18 know not. 19 outer coat. 20 fiddle. 21 psaltery. 11 regular income. 22 get. 13 guarded. 15 employed. 17 dealings. 24 meaning. 23 "with propriety and modesty." 27 church-porch. 28 because of. 28 cautious. conveyancer. al judgments. |